A GOAL on the stroke of half-time from John Eustace has put Derby County 1-0 up at the break in their Championship clash with Wigan Athletic.
It came moments after home debutant Jack Butland had saved James Tavernier's penalty, turning the game on its head.
Wigan had arguably been the better side for most of the opening period, with new league leaders Derby finding chances hard to come by.
The Latics might have had a penalty after 19 minutes when Callum McManaman went down under a rash challenge from Cyrus Christie.
But referee Bobby Madley gave a goal kick, then booked McManaman and Rams skipper Richard Keogh following the tussle that ensued.
Marc-Antoine Fortune blasted a shot from a tight angle across goal, while Adam Forshaw's long-range effort cleared the bar.
After 31 minutes, Roger Espinoza played in McManaman but his low shot was superbly kept out by the legs of Butland.
Derby finally mustered their first shot after 39 minutes, Jordon Ibe feeding Johnny Russell, whose first-time curler from 20 yards went narrowly wide.
In the 44th minute, Ibe cut in from the left but fired wide from a difficult angle.
Moments later, Wigan were awarded a penalty, for a disputed handball against Eustace.
Tavernier stepped up but Butland saved brilliantly, diving full stretch to his right.
That lifted the home crowd and Derby took an unlikely lead in the third minute of added time.
Russell's free kick from the right was attacked by Zak Whitbread and volleyed home by Eustace from close range.
